Filling-insertion device



United States Patent Primary Examiner-Henry S. Jaudon A Itorney-Friedman and Goodman ABSTRACT: A filling-insertion device in a loom forinserting filling threads in the weaving of a fabric which comprises atleast two filling guides through which a filling thread passes. saidfilling guides adaptable to traverse warp ends in said loom at rightangles to said warp ends, each of said guides adaptable to traverse saidwarp ends independently of the, other and to carry filling threadtherewith when traversing said warp ends from its normal position, aselvage thread guide adaptable to dispose a sclvage thread over fillingthread when said filling guides have traversed said warp ends from theirnormal position, said selvage thread guide normally positioned on theopposite side of said loom from said filling guides.

Pa ented Oct. 13, 1970 3533;452 v Sheet I ofS INVENTOR. G USTA VE ULRICHmad Attorneys Patented Oct. 13, 1970 v3,533,452

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O .O 13 I3 IN VENTOR. G USTAVE ULRICH Attorneys FILLING-INSERTION DEVICEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention This inventionrelates to a filling-insertion device. More particularly, this inventionrelates to a device for traversing filling yarn across a relativelynarrow band of parallel running warp ends.

2. Description ofthe prior art Heretofore, weaving of substantially allfabric was performed on a loom provided with means for feeding the warpends in a path generally parallel with one another and with means forinterweaving the weft or filling picks across the warp ends. This lattermeans was generally a shuttle although more recently shuttleless loomshave beeen employed. These looms have been used for substantially alltypes of fabrics regardless of dimensions.

It has been found that while the devices heretofore provided for weavingwere generally suitable for the majority of fabrics, they were notsuitable in the weaving of narrow tapes because they did not provide afinished selvage on the woven fabric. It thus became desirable toprovide a loom which is suitable for weaving narrow tapes such as thoseemployed for zippers and which provides a finished selvage on both sidesof the fabric. More particularly, it became desirable to provide afilling-insertion device which is adaptable for use on existing loomframes which enables weaving narrow tapes with finished selvage edges onboth sides of the fabric.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object ofthis invention, therefore, to provide a loom which is suitable forweaving narrow tapes such as those employed for zippers and whichprovides a finished selvage on both sides of the fabric.

It is another object of this invention, therefore, to provide afilling-insertion device which is adaptable for use on exisiting loomframes which filling-insertion device enables weaving narrow tapes withfinished selvage edges on'both sides of the fabric.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a fillinginsertiondevice which replaces the conventional shuttle and can be used inweaving ribbons and broad looms as well as tapes. 7

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will becomemore apparent from the following complete description, accompanyingdrawings, and appended claims.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION therewith when traversing said warp ends fromits normal position, a selvage thread guide adaptable to dispose aselvage thread over filling thread when said filling guides havetraversed said warp ends from their normal position, said selvage threadguide normally positioned on the opposite side of said loom from saidfilling guides.

In a particularly desirable embodiment, this invention con templates afilling-insertion device of the shuttleless type as aforesaid whereinthe selvage thread guide is operable by means of rotation and rerotationto dispose the selvage thread over the filling thread when said fillingguides have traversed said warp ends from their normal position. Thisdesirable embodiment is suitably provided by provision of a selvagethread guide in the form of a tubular inverted L" having a yarn orificeat the end of the leg of the L" on the top side thereof. Yarn is fedinto said selvage thread guide from a supply positioned therebelow. Theguide is positioned so that the vertical portion lies in the plane ofthe filling guides just above the plane of the warp ends. The leg of theselvage thread guide ls long enough that depending upon rotation of theselvage thread guide it will lie within or without the path defined bythe filling guides. Normally, the vertical portion of the tubularinverted L-shaped selvage thread guide is positioned proriimate thepoint at which the filling guide closest the wov eh fabric will come tobut between that point and any point in the path of the next fillingguide member. The leg ofthe L-shape'd selvage thread guide is positionedin altitude so that by rotation it can be swung over the filling threadcarried by the filling guides closest to the woven fabric.

In another particularly desirable embodiment, this inventioncontemplates a filling-insertion device as above wherein means areprovided to traverse said filling guides across said warp yarns and toextend the second filling guide furthest froih said selvage guidefurther across said warp yarns, means for depositing selvage thread oversaid filling yarn by rotating said selvage guide to a position over saidfilling yarn carried by the first filling guide, means for withdrawingsaid second fillihg guide while maintaining said first filling guide intraversed condition, means for returning said first filling guide to itsoriginal position and means for rerotating said selvage guide to itsoriginal position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention can be more readilyunderstood and appreciated by referring to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. I is a side view of the device, showing the location of the fillingguide 2 with the slot 17, the filling guide 4, the selvage or binderguide 6 and the location of the thread package 8 underneath the loom;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, showing the open shed through which thefilling guides 2 and 4, carrying the filling I0, have passed. Thefilling guide 2 is slotted, while the filling guide 4 has an eyelet,through which the filling thread passes;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device in starting position;

FIG. 4 is a plan view, showing the device after the first stage of thefilling-insertion operation is completed;

FIG. 5 is a plan view, showing completion of the second stage of thefilling-insertion operation; 7

FIG. 6 is a plan view, showing completion of the third stage of theoperation;

FIG. 7 is a plan view, showing completion of the fourth stage of thefilling-insertion operation;

FIG. 8 is a plan view, showing completion of the fifth stage of thefilling-insertion operation;

FIG. 9 is a plan view, showing completion of the sixth stage of thefilling-insertion operation;

FIG. 10 is a plan view, showing completion of the seventh stage of thefilling-insertion operation;

FIG. 11 is a plan view, showing completion of the eighth stage of thefilling-insertion operation. The reed or comb 20 is retreating to thestarting position, with member I8 holding the filling 10 in properpick-up position to slot 17 in filling guide 2';

FIG. 12 is a detailed plan view of FIG. 6, showing the position of theyarn, the filling guides 2 and 4 and the binder guide 6; and

FIG. 13 is a detailed plan view of FIG. 10, showing the position of theyarn, the filling guides 2 and4, the reed or comb 20 with post 19 andthe member I8.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS through which selvage thread 12passes.

It will be noticed, that the yarn is fed into the selvage thread guidethrough a conventional yarn tensioning device (not shown) from a supply8 positioned therebelow. The guide 6 is positioned so that the verticalportion lies in the plane of the filling guides just above the plane ofthe warp ends. This is evident from the side view of FIG. 1 and theperspective view of FIG. 2. The leg 7 of the selvage thread guide islong enough that upon rotation of the selvage thread guide the leg iscaused to lie within the path of the filling guides. Rerotation of 'thevertical position of the selvage-guide rerotates this portion out ofthatpath. The tubular-inverted L-shaped selvage thread guide ispositioned proximate the point at which the first filling guide 2. i.e.the filling guide closest the previously woven fabric will come to butbetween that point and any point in the path of the next filling guidemember.

By referringagain to FIG. 1, a clear meaning of the relative position ofthe vertical portion of the guide 6 and the filling guides is achieved.The leg 7 of the L-shaped selvage thread guide is positioned in altitudeso that by rotation it can be swung over the filling thread carried bythe first filling guide 2.

The loom is provided with an ordinary reed or comb 20 which isreciprocally movable and which is positioned rearwardly of thefilling-insertion device. i.e.. rearward of the most rearward fillingguide. guide 4 in the embodiment shown.

When the reed or comb 20 moves forward toward the fell of the alreadywoven fabric, an outwardly extending post I9 engages the filling threadI at a point A, shown in FIG. 8. Then the moving reed or comb 20 pushesthe filling thread 10 toward the slot 17 on the end of guide 2 andparallel with the warp threads 22.

At a point B, in FIG. 9, a member 18 moves upward and I then, afterpicking up the filling thread 10, moves slightly outward in thedirection indicated by arrow D to the position shown in FIG. 10. Thisaction can be accomplished mechanically or electronically and is notshown here. This will clear the filling thread 10 from the path of themoving reed or comb 20 and bring the filling thread I0 directly in frontand in line with the slot 17 of the filling guide 2, as shown in FIGS.10 and 11.

When the reed or comb 20 moves away from the woven fabric, as indicatedby arrow in FIG. 11, to the starting position shown in FIG. 3, thefilling guide 2 also moves as indicated by an arrow to engage thefilling thread 10 in the slot 17.

The warp ends 22 pass through heddles supplied by a warp beam, notshown. The filling thread 10 en route to the second filling guide 4 andthe first filling guide 2 passes through a conventional tension device(not shown) and then through an eyelet in guide 25.

It should also be noted, that the filling guide 4 is positioned slightlyhigher than the filling guide 2 to allow the selvage thread 12 toreadily interlace over filling 10 without slipping.

Operation of the device is easy. The start position is illustrated inFIG. 3 and each subsequent stage in the next suc ceeding FIG. until FIG.11.

In the start position, both filling guides are in their normal positionon the side of the loom, opposite the selvedge guide 6. The guides 2 and4 are then caused to traverse the warp ends while the shed is open. Thesecond filling guide 4 moves further across the loom and is on a higherlevel than filling guide 2. This moves the filling thread across thewarp ends. The selvage guide 6 through which selvage or binder thread 12passes from package 8 revolves clockwise one-half of a turn, causing theselvage thread to overlie the filling thread 10 as shown in FIG. 5. Thesecond filling guide 4 is then caused to return to its original, normalposition, while guide 2, the first guide, remains in the traversedposition. This causes a large portion of the filling thread toretraverse the warp ends to the position shown in FIG. 6. Thereafter. asshown in FIG. 7, the

first filling guide 2 is caused to return to its original normalposition.

In doing so, the filling guide 2 must free itself from the filling I0 byletting said filling l0 slip out of the slot I7 in filling guide 2, asshown in FIG. 7. This brings, with the help of the tension device,additional filling yarn to the opposite side of the loom from theselvage guide. This causes the filling yarn whieh remained on theselvage side of the loom to loop around the selvage thread as shown inFIGS. 7 and 8.

The selvage guide then rerotates counterclockwise to the original,normal position as shown in FIG. 8. The yarn tensioning devices, notshown, tighten the loop against the fabric by maintaining a constanttension of the filling thread 10 and the selvage or binder thread 12.

The reed or comb 20 thereafter pushes the inserted filling thread 10 tothe woven fabric. e.g. tape. The shed than closes. thereby completingthe weaving cycle.

An outwardly extending post 19 on the reed or comb 20 on the oppositeside of the selvage guide 6 and a member 18 will pick up that portion ofthe filling thread 10 between the woven fabric. e.g. tape and the threadguide 4 while pushing or beating the inserted filling thread 10 to thewoven fabric. e.g. tape. as depicted in FIGS. 8,9, 10 and 11.

This extension 19 on the reed or comb 20 is so constructed, that it willbring said filling thread 10 directly in line with the filling guide 2.

The member 18, illustrated in FIGS. 9, I0, 11 and 13 keeps the fillingthread 10 in position with the slot in filling guide 2,

' while the reed or comb 20 is retreating to its original backwardposition.

When the filling guide 2 starts traversing the warp ends 22, the fillingthread 10 is then securely engaged in the slot 17 of the filling guide 2and the member 18 retreats to its original starting postion and slipsfree from said filling thread 10.

The device is in the start position, when the reed or comb 20 is notagainst the woven fabric. e.g. tape. as shown in FIG. 3. and the shed isopen.

From the foregoing, it is readily apparent that a finished selvage canbeprovided on both sides of the woven fabric, e.g., tape, as illustratedin FIGS. 12 and 13.

Thus, the device is particularly useful, where fabrics having finishededges are desired. The device is suitable in making tapes, ribbons andbroadloom fabrics and can be readily adapted on existing looms toreplace the conventional shuttle. The device uses a minimum of parts,all of which can be provided at a relatively low cost.

Preferably, mechanical and/or electromechanical synchronizing means areemployed to synchronize the actuation of the various guides in theirproper sequence at the normal high speeds presently in use in weavingfabrics. Additional advantages of this invention will be apparent to oneskilled in theart.

The terms and expressions used herein have been used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation as there is no intention, in the useof such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents, or portionsthereof, as many modifications and departures are possible within thescope of the invention claimed.

lclaim:

l. A filling-insertion device in a loom for inserting filling threads inthe weaving of a fabric which comprises at least two filling guidesthrough which a filling yarn passes, said filling guide being adaptableto traverse warp ends in said loom at right angles to said warp ends,each of said guides being adaptable to traverse said warp endsindependently of the other and to carry filling thread therewith whentraversing said warp ends from its normal position, a selvage threadguide being adaptable to dispose a selvage thread over filling threadwhen said filling guides have traversed said warp ends from their normalposition, and said selvage thread guide being normally positioned on theopposite side of said loom from said filling guides.

2. A filling-insertion device according to claim I, wherein said selvagethread guide is operable to dispose said selvage over said fillingthread by means of rotation to a position over said filling thread whensaid filling guides have traversed said warp ends from their normalposition.

3. A filling-insertion device according to claim 2, wherein a portion ofsaid selvage thread guide is positioned within the path of said fillingguides and adaptable by said rotation to dispose said selvage threadover said filling thread.

4. A filling-insertion device according to claim 3, wherein said selvagethread guide comprises a generally tubular inverted L-shaped memberhaving a thread opening on the top side of the end of the leg of saidsaid leg positioned higher than the first filling guide nearest wovenfabric and the plane of said warp yarns.

5. A filling-insertion device according to claim 4, wherein the tubularinverted L-shaped selvage thread guide is postioned proximate the pointto which said first filling guide traverses.

6. A filling-insertion device according to claim 5, wherein means areprovided to traverse said filling guides across said warp yarn and toextend the second filling guide furthest from said guide further acrosssaid warp ends, means for withdrawing said second filling guide whilemaintaining the first filling guide in traversed position and means forreturning said first filling guide to its original position.

7. A filling-insertion device according to claim 6, wherein said secondfilling guide is positioned higher than said first filling guide intheir respective traversed conditions and said leg of said selvagethread guide.

8. A filling-insertion device according to claim 7, wherein beneath saidloom there is a thread package containing selvage thread feeding saidselvage thread guide.

9. A filling-insertion device according to claim 7, wherein rearward ofsaid second filling guide there is a reed to dispose said filling threadagainst previously woven fabric.

10. A filling-insertion device according to claim 7, wherein there is astationary filling guide through which filling thread passes en route tosaid first and second filling guides.

11. A filling-insertion device according to claim 9, wherein said reedis provided with a vertically extending post on its edge proximate thenormal position of said filling guides to engage filling thread.

12. A filling-insertion device according to claim 1, wherein said firstfilling guide comprises a horizontally disposed member having a slotalong its top surface for engagement with said filling thread.

13. A filling-insertion device according to claim 12, wherein avertically moving member is provided in the longitudinal plane throughsaid filling guides adaptable to engage filling thread when said threadis not in said slot of said first filling guide and to release saidthread by vertical movement when said thread is engaged within said slotof said first filling guide.

14. A filling-insertion device according to claim 11, comprising avertically reciprocating member adaptable to engage feed filling threadwhen said reed is disposing filling thread against said previously wovenfabric to dispose said filling thread in alignment with said firstfilling guide and to hold said filling thread in said position betweenthe time the reed is removed from'against said previously woven fabricand said filling thread engaged by said first filling guide.

[5. A filling-insertion device according to claim 13, wherein saidvertically reciprocating member is adaptable to engage said fillingthread and move it laterally toward said first filling guide.

